The Key Word Strikes ... Yet Again
Use of English: Part 4
What is the main purpose of a language?
Communication.
Do we communicate with everyone in the same way?
Of course not.
We’re extremely courteous with certain people, while we speak in a totally different way with our close relatives and friends.
Yes, we often communicate the same idea in many different ways.
This is where transformations step in! Ta-da!
Transforming involves expressing the same idea in various ways — using different vocabulary, an alternative grammatical structure, or even both.
Cambridge English examiners understand how important sentence transformations are, and that’s why this exam task carries almost 10% of the whole exam score! Oh yes, I’m serious.
What are we waiting for?
Let’s practise transforming those sentences!
Vocabulary Transformations
I Choose the correct word or phrase:
Another way of saying participate is take place / take part.
Another way of saying respect is look down on / look up to.
Another way of saying too old is not too young / not young enough.
Another way of saying more expensive than is cheaper than / not as cheap as.
Another way of saying be responsible for is give responsibility to / have responsibility for.
Another way of saying also is in addition to / with the exception of.
Another way of saying he won it is it is won by him / it was won by him.
Another way of saying mustn’t is can’t / don’t have to.
II Complete the phrases:
Example: discuss = have a discussion about
contribute = make ___ ___
blame = put ___ ___ ___
recover = make ___ ___
decide = make/take ___ ___
lack = have ___ ___ ___
impress = make ___ ___ ___
record = keep ___ ___ ___
pity = take ___ ___
use = make ___ ___
warn = give ___ ___ ___
describe = give ___ ___ ___
prefer = have ___ ___ ___
Grammar Transformations
III Rewrite each sentence using the structure given:
1. A thousand people follow me on X.
a) (passive voice)
b) (have as a main verb)
2. We asked an expert to install our new computer system.
a) (passive voice)
b) (causative form)
3. I regret putting that photo online!
a) (wish)
b) (modal in the past)
Grammar & Vocabulary Transformations
IV Rewrite each sentence using the verb form of the noun in bold:
1. There is a need for further study into the effect computer games have on people’s social skills.
2. I am in constant communication with friends and family around the world using the Internet.
3. Some of the readers had a debate about the tennis final in the newspaper’s comments section.
4. There has been an increase in popularity of online multiplayer games with people over the age of 35.
EXAM PRACTICE: C1 Advanced
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do NOT change the word given. You must use between three and six words, including the word given.
1 Her boyfriend impressed her parents on their first meeting.
MADE
Her boyfriend ___________________ her parents when they first met.
2 They didn’t trust each other at all.
COMPLETE
There ___________________ between them.
3 The ferry timetable can alter depending on the weather.
SUBJECT
The ferry timetable ___________________ depending on the weather.
4 I hope his story will help us to understand what happened.
SHED
Hopefully when he tells us his story it will ___________________ what happened.
ANSWER KEY
I Vocabulary Transformations
Another way of saying participate is take part.
Another way of saying respect is look up to.
Another way of saying too old is not young enough.
Another way of saying more expensive than is not as cheap as.
Another way of saying be responsible for is have responsibility for.
Another way of saying also is in addition to.
Another way of saying he won it is it was won by him.
Another way of saying mustn’t is can’t.
II Vocabulary Transformations
contribute = make a contribution
blame = put the blame on
recover = make a recovery
decide = make/take a decision
lack = have a lack of
impress = make an impression on
record = keep a record of
pity = take pity on
use = make use of
warn = give a warning to
describe = give a description of
prefer = have a preference for
III Grammar Transformations
1. A thousand people follow me on X.
a) (passive voice) I am followed by a thousand people on X.
b) (have as a main verb) I have a thousand followers on X.
2. We asked an expert to install our new computer system.
a) (passive voice) Our new computer system was installed by an expert.
b) (causative form) We had an expert install our new computer system. / We had our new computer system installed by an expert.
3. I regret putting that photo online!
a) (wish) I wish I hadn’t put that photo online.
b) (modal in the past) I shouldn’t have put that photo online.
IV Grammar & Vocabulary
Suggested answers:
1. The effect computer games have on people’s social skills needs to be studied further.
2. I constantly communicate with friends and family around the world using the Internet.
3. Some of the readers debated the tennis final in the newspaper’s comments section.
4. Online multiplayer games have increased in popularity with people over the age of 35.
Exam Practice
1 Her boyfriend made a good impression on her parents when they first met.
2 There was a complete lack of trust between them.
3 The ferry timetable is subject to alteration depending on the weather.
4 Hopefully when he tells us his story it will shed some light on what happened.